Introduction 



This report evaluates the biological integrity', support of aquatic life uses, and probable 

 causes of stress or impairment to aquatic communities in Beaver Creek, located in the Big Spring 

 Creek TMDL planning area of central Montana. The main purpose of this report is to provide 

 information that will help the State of Montana determine whether Beaver Creek is water-quality 

 limited and in need of TMDLs. This report also describes conspicuous algal growths collected 

 from nearby Casino Creek and Cottonwood Creek. 



The federal Clean Water Act directs states to develop water pollution control plans (Total 

 Maximum Daily Loads or TMDLs) that set limits on pollution loading to v/ater-quality limited 

 waters. Water-quality limited waters are lakes and stream segments that do not meet water- 

 quality standards, that is, that do not flilly support their beneficial uses. The Clean Water Act 

 and USEPA regulations require each state to (1) identify waters that are water-quality limited, 

 (2) prioritize and target waters for TMDLs, and (3) develop TMDL plans to attain and maintain 

 water-quality standards for all water-quality limited waters. 



Evaluation of aquatic life use support in this report is based on the species composition 

 and structure of periphyton (benthic algae, phytobenthos) communities at stream sites that were 

 sampled in July 2003. Periphyton is a diverse assortment of simple photosynthetic organisms 

 called algae that live attached to or in close proximity of the stream bottom. Some algae form 

 long filaments or large colonies and are conspicuous to the unaided eye. But most, including the 

 ubiquitous diatoms, can be seen and identified only with the aid of a microscope. The 

 periphyton community is a basic biological component of all aquatic ecosystems. Periphyton 

 accounts for much of the primary production and biological diversity in Montana streams (Bahls 

 et al. 1992). Plaflcin et al. (1989) and Barbour et al. (1999) list several advantages of using 

 periphyton in biological assessments. 



' Biological integrity is defined as "the ability of an aquatic ecosystem to support and maintain a balanced, 

 integrated, adaptive community of organisms having a species composition, diversity, and functional organization 

 comparable to that of natural habitats within a region" (Karr and Dudley 1981). 



